The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) near Kharbao in Palghar district has cast a shadow over the project’s planning and management, as the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) recently demolished 14 completed pillars and a deck slab across a 1km stretch.
This unprecedented action, occurring on a crucial national infrastructure project, has ignited a fierce public debate and raised serious questions regarding accountability for potential lapses in project execution. While no official explanation has been forthcoming from DFCCIL, industry sources indicate that the demolition may be attributed to fundamental structural design changes, sparking concerns about the judicious use of public funds and the adherence to zero net carbon, eco-friendly construction standards. The dismantled section formed part of a vital viaduct intended to seamlessly connect the WDFC to Indian Railways’ existing lines. Alarmingly, the deck slab and parapet work on this stretch had already been fully completed, signifying a significant investment in both time and resources before the decision to raze the structures. The issue gained widespread traction after rail enthusiasts and concerned citizens took to social media, flagging the incident and vociferously questioning how such an extensive and costly section could be constructed and subsequently demolished without transparent accountability. Saurabh Raut, a prominent voice on X, posted a pointed query, “May it affect the deadline or not, how is this wastage justified?”, directly tagging Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Ministry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Raut’s critical assessment extended to challenging the engineering oversight, posting, “Well of course DFCCIL babus will now call it a ‘technical issue’, but what were engineers doing during piling, pier construction, and girder launching stages?” He further highlighted that this was not an isolated incident of poor planning, citing a previous instance where track alignment beyond Boisar had to be re-laid even after significant groundwork, including blanket and drainage levels, had been completed. Such repeated instances of rework suggest systemic issues within the project management framework that demand urgent attention to prevent future wastage and ensure timely delivery of crucial infrastructure. When contacted for comment, Vikas Kumar, Chief General Manager (Mumbai North) of DFCCIL, declined to respond to queries, while Tata Projects, the contractor responsible for the demolished stretch, indicated that an official response would be issued solely by DFCCIL. This lack of immediate transparency from the executing agency further fuels public skepticism and calls for greater accountability in projects funded by taxpayer money. The WDFC, a monumental undertaking spanning 1,506km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Navi Mumbai to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, traverses five states and is envisioned as a critical freight link for essential commodities such as containers, imported coal, fertilisers, and foodgrains. Its counterpart, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, connects northern power plants to eastern coalfields, collectively forming the backbone of India’s freight logistics.
The latest demolition episode adds to a growing list of execution woes plaguing DFCCIL. In 2022, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its compliance audit for the year ending March 2020, had already flagged significant delays on both dedicated freight corridors. The CAG report specifically cited a slow pace in land acquisition, utility shifting, finalisation of design, and delays in overhead equipment works as primary contributors to substantial cost escalations. According to the CAG, DFCCIL had incurred ₹2,233.8 crore by March 2021 solely towards price escalation and was projected to face an additional liability of nearly ₹2,671.3 crore. The CAG report, tabled in Parliament in April 2022, issued a stern warning about systemic issues and inadequate interface coordination between contractors and the executing agency. The recent demolition incident near Kharbao underscores the persisting nature of these concerns, highlighting a need for a comprehensive review of DFCCIL’s project management protocols. For a nation committed to sustainable, gender-neutral, and equitable urban development, efficient and waste-free infrastructure projects are paramount.
The financial implications of such lapses are substantial, ultimately burdening the public exchequer and delaying the benefits of vital infrastructure for citizens and businesses alike. Transparency, accountability, and robust engineering oversight are non-negotiable for projects of this national importance.
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